SEOUL - The Republic of Korea (ROK) government has decided to shelve for now a plan to abolish a system that allows alternative forms of serving the country instead of the mandatory military service, the defense ministry said Monday.

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Instead, the current system that acknowledges non-military services will be maintained until 2015, three years longer than originally planned, and the authorities will decide in 2014 whether to further keep the system alive or not.

The decision comes after the period of the compulsory military service at the Army was shortened by three months to 21 months, supplying a surplus of conscript soldiers.

More than 20,000 of some 300,000 conscripts each year are allowed to serve non-military duties as prison guards, riot police, maritime police and fire fighters. Working for private companies is also allowed.